Effect of CARMA 2sh gene in Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells

CARMA2 belongs to the CARMA family of proteins. They are involved in the regulation and activation of NF-κB that have a central role in the control of immune and inflammatory response, and cell survival and proliferation. CARMA2short (CARMA2sh) which is the most prominent CARMA2 isoform expressed in human keratinocytes. It has already been identified that CARMA2sh induces activation of NF-κB, and this activity requires the function of another CARD-containing protein, namely BCL10, and the adapter protein TRAF2. This study identified a CARMA Inhibitory Kinase (CIK) which inhibit the ability to induce NF-κB. CIK is not tested for their function in Human Primary keratinocytes and hence we attempt to understand the function of CIK and its associated molecules by invitro and invivo models. The inhibitory activity of CIK on CARMA2 in primary human keratinocytes expressing wild (wt) & mutant CARMA2 was analyzed.This work was made possible by NPRP grant NPRP 7 - 466 - 3119 from the Qatar National Research Fund of Qatar Foundatio

Expression of active and inactive forms of CIK and CARMA 2sh proteins in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK)

Psoriasis is a debilitating skin disease affecting approximately 23% of human population. The disease is considered to have key genetic underpinning and genome wide association studies and meta analysis have identified more than 40 susceptibility loci for psoriasis. CARMA proteins play a major role in regulating activation of transcription factor NF-kB which is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells that play a central role in the control of immune and inflammatory response. Missense mutations in the CARMA2 gene have been shown to dominantly transmit the psoriatic trait with high penetrance. Most of the CARMA2 mutations associated with skin disorders clusters in the coiled coil domain of the protein.NPRP 7-466-3-119 from the Qatar National Research Fund of Qatar Foundatio

Effect of psoriasis linked CARMA2sh gene in transgenic animal model

Background • CARMA2 belongs to the CARMA family of proteins. They are involved in the regulation and activation of NF-κB, that has a central role in controlling the immune and inflammatory response, cell survival and proliferation. • CARMA2short (CARMA2sh) is the most prominent CARMA2 isoform expressed in human keratinocytes • It has already been identified that CARMA2sh induces activation of NF-κB in association with another CARD-containing protein, namely BCL10, and the adapter protein TRAF2. • This study identified a CARMA Inhibitory Kinase(CIK) which inhibits the ability to induce NF-κB • CIK is not tested for their function in Human Primary keratinocytes and hence we attempt to understand the function of CIK and its associated molecules by invitro & invivo models • The inhibitory activity of CIK on CARMA2 in primary human keratinocytes expressing wild (wt) & mutant CARMA2 was analyzedNPRP grant NPRP 7 - 466 - 3119 from the Qatar National Research Fund of Qatar Foundatio

Defining frequency domain performance of analog-to-information converters

Peer Reviewe

Nutritional and Functional Advantages of the Use of Fermented Black Chickpea Flour for Semolina-Pasta Fortification

Pasta represents a dominant portion of the diet worldwide and its functionalization with high nutritional value ingredients, such as legumes, is the most ideal solution to shape consumers behavior towards healthier food choices. Aiming at improving the nutritional quality of semolina pasta, semi-liquid dough of a Mediterranean black chickpea flour, fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum T0A10, was used at a substitution level of 15% to manufacture fortified pasta. Fermentation with the selected starter enabled the release of 20% of bound phenolic compounds, and the conversion of free compounds into more active forms (dihydrocaffeic and phloretic acid) in the dough. Fermented dough also had higher resistant starch (up to 60% compared to the control) and total free amino acids (almost 3 g/kg) contents, whereas antinutritional factors (raffinose, condensed tannins, trypsin inhibitors and saponins) significantly decreased. The impact of black chickpea addition on pasta nutritional, technological and sensory features, was also assessed. Compared to traditional (semolina) pasta, fortified pasta had lower starch hydrolysis rate (ca. 18%) and higher in vitro protein digestibility (up to 38%). Moreover, fortified cooked pasta, showing scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals and intense inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation, was appreciated for its peculiar organoleptic profile. Therefore, fermentation technology appears to be a promising tool to enhance the quality of pasta and promote the use of local chickpea cultivars while preventing their genetic erosion.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) RYC-2015-1879

Reducing parasitic resonances in particle accelerators components by broadband Higher Order Mode couplers

In particle accelerator components, parasitic resonances must be reduced because they heat up the equipment and cause beam instabilities. In this paper, a method for designing and characterizing Higher Order Mode (HOM) couplers for reducing such resonances in a broad bandwidth is proposed. A case study is considered for a specific component, called QuattroTank, showing geometrical discontinuities and thus causing significant electro-magnetic resonances. Results of numerical simulation and experimental emulation prove the capability of the proposed method to reduce the peaks and the $Q-factor of the resonances

Autosomal Recessive Hypercholesterolemia Protein Interacts with and Regulates the Cell Surface Level of Alzheimer's Amyloid β Precursor Protein *

The familial Alzheimer's disease gene product amyloid beta protein precursor (A beta PP) is sequentially processed by beta- and gamma-secretases to generate the A beta peptide. Although much is known about the biochemical pathway leading to A beta formation, because extracellular aggregates of A beta peptides are considered the cause of Alzheimer's disease, the biological role of A beta PP processing is only recently being investigated. Cleavage of A beta PP by gamma-secretase releases, together with A beta, a COOH-terminal A beta PP intracellular domain, termed AID. Hoping to gain clues about proteins that regulates A beta PP processing and function, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that interact with the AID region of A beta PP. One of the interactors isolated is the autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) adapter protein. This molecular interaction is confirmed in vitro and in vivo by fluorescence resonance energy transfer and in cell lysates. Moreover, we show that reduction of ARH expression by RNA interference results in increased levels of cell membrane A beta PP. These data assert a physiological role for ARH in A beta PP internalization, transport, and/or processing

A20 is a negative regulator of BCL10- and CARMA3-mediated activation of NF-κB

The molecular complex containing CARMA proteins, BCL10 and TRAF6 has been identified recently as a key component in the signal transduction pathways that regulate activation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcription factor. Here, we report that the inducible protein A20 negatively regulates these signaling cascades by means of its deubiquitylation activity. We show that A20 perturbs assembly of the complex containing CARMA3, BCL10 and IKKγ/NEMO, thereby suppressing activation of NF-κB. Together, our results further define the molecular mechanisms that control activation of NF-κB and reveal a function for A20 in the regulation of CARMA and BCL10 activity in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells

The Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services of Biodiversity Components in Protected Areas: A Review for a Framework of Analysis for the Gargano National Park

Protected areas play an important role in the conservation and protection of biodiversity of particular territories, especially of ecosystems that provide resources for living organisms, including human beings. Different studies highlight the importance of biodiversity and its associated benefits in terms of ecosystem services of protected areas. The economic assessment of ecosystem services and biodiversity becomes a viable solution to help the policy maker to make decisions on the environmental preservation of these areas according to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Nonetheless, very few studies provide an economic evaluation of the benefits of protected areas. To advance the current debate on the economic evaluation of the benefits provided by protected areas, the present paper purposes an integrated approach. It presents an overview of main ecosystem services’ mapping techniques currently available to researchers and policy makers and offers a systematic review carried out for the period 2015–2020 at an international level. The main findings are particularly attractive for the Gargano National Park (GNP) in the south of Italy, which is recognised as being a biodiversity hot spot at global level. The current study provides useful guidance for the assessment of trade-offs, the support to policy makers, and the provision of efficient allocation of public resources for protected area